Dear Parents,

You will perhaps think it strange to hear that I am here.  I wrote that we were about to move but I had no idea that we were going to Richmond, VA. There is ten regiments left at Newbern; the rest are left at Roanoke, Beaufort and Newbern to guard those places.   The first of July we were ordered to get ready to march.  The order came that we should have no marching so we carried our knapsacks on board a schooner.   We kept our blouse, rubber blanket, haversack, canteen and equipment.  The next thing we struck our tents.  These were packed away with our haversacks.  We marched to Newbern.

The first 8 companies went on board the schooner, Scout.  Our company, the 9th and the flank company and band went on board another.  We started about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.  We were towed by the Ellen S. Terry, occupied by the 51st New York .  We had some heavy showers during the afternoon and night.  We anchored at dark.  I did not sleep much that night.  Some slept in the hold but it stunk so I could not stand it.  Every place that one could get, they were packed.  I had a pretty good place for that night but it was pretty cold and it rained most of the time.  During the night, 2 of the 51st fell overboard and drowned. We reached Hatteras at night and anchored.  In the morning, we started back for Newbern.

We were told that we were destined for Richmond but McClellan had taken it.  We hoisted sail, and there being a good breeze, we went very fast.  We arrived at Newbern about 5 o'clock .  We went ashore, unloaded our tents and pitched our tents.  The rest of the regiment did not come ashore.  The next day we stayed at camp.  The rest of the regiment came ashore.  We received orders to go on board in the morning.  That McClellan had been defeated. 

We went on board in the morning on a nice clean schooner.  A furnace was brought aboard to cook our coffee.  We were towed to Hatteras by the Corsack.  We anchored there at night.  In the morning, we sailed out.  It was a beautiful day and the calmest I ever saw it.  We sailed all day and night.  There was not much breeze.  The next morning, the steamer Excelsior took us in tow.  We got into Hampton Roads just at noon .  It was the pleasantest voyage we ever made.  We have plenty of salt pork, coffee and hard tack. 

When we first started we had hardly anything to eat and it was cold and rainy all the time. 

I suppose the next battle McClellan has, we shall probably have a hand in it.  There is as much as 150 vessels of different kinds lying here.  We can get a delightful view of the surrounding country from the masthead.  There is a beautiful village north of the Fort.  The inside is full of houses with splendid shade trees.  It is very beautifully laid out. 

The rip raps are a small island lying between the Fort and Sewells Point.  It is being fortified.  How long we shall stay here or where we shall go, I don’t know.  Colonel Clark has arrived.  He has been home on furlough.  Burnside is with us.  It is said, that he will have 30,000 troops.

Direct your letter to Fortress Monroe, VA, Second Brigade, Reno’s Division, 21st Mass. Vol., Co. F.  The next time you hear from me we will probably be somewhere in Virginia .  I am well. This morning is beautiful.  I send my love to you all.

Goodbye for this time,